Two men sitting on forest floor, looking at notebook. — Project lead Matthias De Beenhouwer (right) reviews the observed bird species in the Sheka Key Biodiversity Area with one of the Ethiopian trainees.

© BINCO/Image by Jesse Erens

Filling the Gap: Biodiversity Survey to Increase Long-Term Forest Sustainability in Sheka Forest Key Biodiversity Area, Ethiopia

Grantee Name: Biodiversity Inventory for Conservation

Hotspot: Eastern Afromontane
Location: Ethiopia
Amount: $17,464
Dates: Jun 2015 – Sep 2016
Keywords: Buffer zones, Capacity building, Land use planning, World Heritage Site

Produce an inventory of biodiversity at the Sheka Forest Biosphere Reserve Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) in Ethiopia, including checklists of birds, mammals and amphibians, and identify priority sites within the KBA for enhanced protection. Deliver training to five local community representatives in monitoring and identifying birds, mammals and amphibians, and in nature guiding. Establish a research center and construct a protocol that can be used for researchers and tourists to visit the biosphere reserve. Share results and information via meetings, websites and tour operators, and feed results into the biosphere reserve management plan.

Strategic Direction : 1 Mainstream biodiversity into wider development policies, plans and projects to deliver the co-benefits of biodiversity conservation, improved local livelihoods and economic development in priority corridors.